Masked Fruiteater
Pipreola pulchra
Chunky green bird with a broad, blunt bill. Males have a bright orange bill, a blackish face, a yellow-orange necklace that bleeds into the breast, and a yellow lower belly; females are nearly entirely green with faint streaking below and a dull orange bill. Notice the females’ dull olive legs and streaked, not scaled pattern underneath, which distinguish it from the similar, orange-legged female Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater. Perches inconspicuously in the mid-story of humid montane forest, where it is often found around fruiting trees and occasionally joins mixed-species flocks.
Identification
At 17 cm (7 in), the masked fruiteater is a medium-sized fruiteater. Both the sexes are bright green above, with a yellowish iris, coral-coloured beak and grey legs. The male has a black face and upper throat, a bib-like orange lower throat, mottled green flanks and a yellowish belly. The female lacks the mask and bib, and its underparts are green streaked with yellow. This bird could be confused with the scarlet-breasted fruiteater (Pipreola frontalis), but that species has pale tips to the tertial wing feathers, the male has a scarlet throat but no collar, and the female has a yellow upper throat and unbarred breast.<p>The voice is a very high-pitched whistle "tseeeeeeeweee". The call note is a rising "tsweet".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pipreola pulchra
- Authority
- (Hellmayr, 1917)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Pipreola
Range and habitat
The masked fruiteater is endemic to Peru. It occurs on the eastern side of the Andes Mountains at altitudes of between 1,600 to 2,400 metres (5,200 to 7,900 ft) where its natural habitat is montane forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark
Eremopterix griseus
A small, stocky bird with a heavy, finch-like bill. Males have a gray head that contrasts with a black eye-stripe, and black on the collar, throat, and underparts. Females are pale brown with weak streaks on the head, back, and underparts. Similar to Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, but Ashy-crowned males are told apart by the gray on the head. Females are difficult to distinguish. Inhabits dry scrub, fields, and rocky country. The song is often given in display flight, and consists of monotone whistles interspersed with buzzy notes.
Wrybill
Anarhynchus frontalis
A small, pale plover endemic to New Zealand. Gray above, white below. Note distinctive black bill with tip curving to the right, unique to this species, used to forage under stones for invertebrates. Breeding birds have a clear black band across their chest, thinner in females and varying from absent to distinct in non-breeding or juvenile birds. Breeds only along the braided rivers of Canterbury and Otago. The majority of the population migrates north to winter in large flocks in the harbors and estuaries of the northern North Island, particularly the Firth of Thames and Manukau Harbour. Commonly heard giving a “chip” call.
Ochre-breasted Antpitta
Grallaricula flavirostris
Small and fairly bright antpitta found in foothills and subtropics from Costa Rica to Bolivia. Typical antpitta shape: plump and short-tailed. Dull brown above. Messy-looking buffy face and eyering. Some geographic variation: breast color varies from buffy to whitish, and some populations show bold dark scaling on breast, while others are nearly unmarked. Sexes similar. Shy and difficult to see; stays on or near the ground in forest, often perching on small limbs a couple meters high (more so than the larger antpittas). Swings its body side to side. Song can be difficult to detect: a simple, extremely high pitched, descending whistle. Occurs from around 500–2,500 m, usually lower than other small antpittas.
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